Full depth manifold skin with integrated side trim for domestic kitchen appliance

ABSTRACT

A manifold skin/side trim combination for a domestic kitchen appliance built into a cabinet is provided. The combination includes a manifold skin having a main skin body having a first surface and a second surface, and an opening in the first surface; and a side trim of the domestic kitchen appliance configured to be positioned adjacent to a front face of the cabinet, the side trim having a main section, an insertion extension that extends into the opening, and a transition section that connects the insertion extension to the main section such that the insertion section extends at an extension angle greater than zero degrees relative to the main section. An outside surface of the main section of the side trim is in the same plane as the second surface of the main skin body, and the second surface is adjacent to the first surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/192,672, filed Jul. 28, 2011, now allowed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a trim feature for a domestic kitchenappliance.

An example of an application for the invention is the trim on a built-indomestic kitchen oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many domestic appliances, such as built in ovens, have a need for anesthetically pleasing trim that completes the boundary between theappliance and the cabinet in which the appliance is mounted.

Some built-in appliances have a manifold skin that covers a controlsection of the appliance. This manifold skin can have a lower surfacethat is adjacent to the door of the appliance and covers a lower side ofthe control section. Also, some type of side trim is usually needed tocover the edge of the opening of the cabinet in which the appliance islocated. The location where the side trim meets the manifold skinpresents a problem in that it is difficult to provide an estheticallypleasing transition between the side trim and the manifold skin. This isespecially the case where the corners of the manifold skin are radiused.

SUMMARY

The invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide an estheticallypleasing yet simple detail at the location where the side trim meets themanifold skin.

Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a manifoldskin/side trim combination for a domestic kitchen appliance built into acabinet. The combination includes a manifold skin configured to cover acontrol panel of the domestic kitchen appliance and a side trim of thedomestic kitchen appliance. The manifold skin has a main skin bodyhaving a first surface and a second surface, and an opening in the firstsurface. The side trim is configured to be positioned adjacent to afront face of the cabinet and has a main section, an insertion extensionthat extends into the opening, and a transition section that connectsthe insertion extension to the main section such that the insertionsection extends at an extension angle greater than zero degrees relativeto the main section. An outside surface of the main section of the sidetrim is in the same plane as the second surface of the main skin body,and the second surface is adjacent to the first surface.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic kitchenappliance configured to be built into a cabinet. The domestic kitchenappliance includes an appliance body; an operation space inside theappliance body; a door attached to the appliance body and enclosing theoperational space; and a manifold skin/side trim combination. Themanifold skin/side trim combination includes a manifold skin covering acontrol panel of the domestic kitchen appliance, the manifold skinhaving a main skin body having a first surface and a second surface, andan opening in the first surface; and a side trim of the domestic kitchenappliance configured to be positioned adjacent to a front face of thecabinet, the side trim having a main section, an insertion extensionthat extends into the opening, and a transition section that connectsthe insertion extension to the main section such that the insertionsection extends at an extension angle greater than zero degrees relativeto the main section. An outside surface of the main section of the sidetrim is in the same plane as the second surface of the main skin body,and the second surface is adjacent to the first surface.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic kitchenappliance/cabinet combination. The combination includes a cabinet; anappliance body built into the cabinet; an operation space inside theappliance body; a door attached to the appliance body and enclosing theoperational space; and a manifold skin/side trim combination. Themanifold skin/side trim combination includes a manifold skin covering acontrol panel of the domestic kitchen appliance, the manifold skinhaving a main skin body having a first surface and a second surface, andan opening in the first surface; and a side trim of the domestic kitchenappliance positioned adjacent to a front face of the cabinet, the sidetrim having a main section, an insertion extension that extends into theopening, and a transition section that connects the insertion extensionto the main section such that the insertion section extends at anextension angle greater than zero degrees relative to the main section.An outside surface of the main section of the side trim is in the sameplane as the second surface of the main skin body, and the secondsurface is adjacent to the first surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures form part of the present specification and areincluded to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosedfeatures and functions, and should not be used to limit or define thedisclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more completeunderstanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features andadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a domestic appliance in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a domestic kitchen appliance inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a domestic kitchen appliance inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a portion of a manifold/side trimcombination in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a domestic kitchen appliance inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. Theinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a domestic kitchen appliance 100 such as, forexample, an oven having a door 110. Domestic kitchen appliance 100 is,in this example, built into a cabinet 10. Cabinet 10 can be a piece ofkitchen furniture made of wood or other material.

FIG. 2 shows a partial view of a corner of domestic kitchen appliance100 with its door 110 partially open. Domestic kitchen appliance 100 hasa manifold assembly 200 that includes various controls and indicatorsfor the operation of domestic kitchen appliance 100. Manifold assembly200 can include, for example, a glass panel and/or knobs and buttonsused by a user to interface with the controls.

The skin of manifold assembly 200 has a side surface 210 that, in thisexample, extends back and contacts a front face of cabinet 10. A sidetrim 300 continues along a side of the appliance adjacent to door 110and the front face of cabinet 10. As stated above, the location where amanifold assembly and a side trim meet can present a problem because itcan be difficult to provide an esthetically pleasing transition betweena manifold assembly and aside trim. This is especially true in the caseof a manifold skin that contacts a front face of a cabinet.

Embodiments of the invention provide a solution to this problem byproviding an angled end of side trim 300. FIG. 3 shows side trim 300having a main section 310 (that runs vertically in this example) and aninsertion extension 320 that extends at an angle relative to mainsection 310. As shown in FIG. 4, insertion extension 320 extends into anopening 220 in a lower side 240 of the skin of manifold assembly 200.This detail hides the end of side trim 300 so that it cannot be seen bya user of the appliance and provides an esthetically pleasing solutionto the above-described problem.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, opening 220 is formed by a portion ofthe lower side 240 being cut and then bent up into an interior space ofmanifold assembly 200. This results in the formation of a bent piece230. In this example, insertion extension 320 contacts and runs parallelto bent piece 230. This avoids food or other foreign material fromentering manifold assembly 200 from outside of side trim 300.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view looking up at lower side 240 of theskin of manifold 200 and shows insertion extension 320 entering opening220 at an angle. The angle between insertion extension 320 and mainsection 310 can be any angle that provides the desired appearance suchas, for example, an angle between 15 degrees and 90 degrees. Anotherrange of desirable angles is from 25 degrees to 45 degrees.

As shown in the examples in the figures, the combination of the radiusedcorner of the skin of manifold assembly 200 and the radiused transitionbetween insertion extension 320 and main section 310 forms anesthetically pleasing designed gap in the collinear feature of the sidesurface 210 and side trim 300.

Although the above example is directed to a domestic kitchen oven, it isnoted that the features of the invention can be applied to otherdomestic kitchen appliances such as, for example, microwave ovens anddishwashers.

It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined intomany other different systems or applications. Various presentlyunforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations orimprovements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in theart which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A manifold skin and trim combination for adomestic kitchen appliance built into a cabinet, the combinationcomprising: a manifold skin operable to cover a control panel of thedomestic kitchen appliance, the manifold skin having a main skin body, aportion of the main skin body forming an opening; and a side trim of thedomestic kitchen appliance operable to be positioned adjacent to a frontface of the cabinet, the side trim having: a main section, and aninsertion extension disposed at an end of the main section that extendsinto the opening, and wherein the main skin body has a flap bent from anedge of the opening that forms a cantilever extending into an interiorarea of the main skin body, wherein the flap is parallel to and abutsthe insertion extension of the side trim, and wherein the portion of themain skin body forming the opening is substantially perpendicular to themain section of the side trim.
 2. The combination of claim 1, whereinthe side trim includes a transition section that connects the insertionextension to the main section, wherein the transition section extends atan extension angle such that the insertion extension extends along adifferent axis than an axis of the main section.
 3. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein the main skin body is operable to contact the frontface of the cabinet.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the mainskin body having a first surface and a second surface.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the insertion extension contacts theflap in the interior area of the main body.
 6. The combination of claim5, wherein an outside surface of the main section of the side trim is inthe same plane as the second surface of the main skin body.
 7. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein the second surface is adjacent to thefirst surface.
 8. A domestic kitchen appliance operable to be built intoa cabinet, the domestic kitchen appliance comprising: an appliance body;an operation space inside the appliance body; a door attached to theappliance body and enclosing the operational space; a manifold skin/sidetrim combination having a manifold skin operable to cover a controlpanel of the domestic kitchen appliance, the manifold skin having a mainskin body, a portion of the main skin body forming an opening; and aside trim of the domestic kitchen appliance operable to be positionedadjacent to a front face of the cabinet, the side trim having: a mainsection, and an insertion extension disposed at an end of the mainsection that extends into the opening, and wherein the main skin bodyhas a flap bent from an edge of the opening that forms a cantileverextending into an interior area of the main skin body, wherein the flapis parallel to and abuts the insertion extension of the side trim, andwherein the portion of the main skin body forming the opening issubstantially perpendicular to the main section of the side trim.
 9. Thedomestic kitchen appliance of claim 8, wherein the side trim includes atransition section that connects the insertion extension to the mainsection, wherein the transition section extends at an extension anglesuch that the insertion extension extends along a different axis than anaxis of the main section.
 10. The domestic kitchen appliance of claim 8,wherein the main skin body is operable to contact the front face of thecabinet.
 11. The domestic kitchen appliance of claim 8, wherein the mainskin body having a first surface and a second surface.
 12. The domestickitchen appliance of claim 8, wherein the insertion extension contactsthe flap in the interior area of the main body.
 13. The domestic kitchenappliance of claim 11, wherein an outside surface of the main section ofthe side trim is in the same plane as the second surface of the mainskin body.
 14. The domestic kitchen appliance of claim 11, wherein thesecond surface is adjacent to the first surface.
 15. A domestic kitchenappliance and cabinet combination, the combination comprising: acabinet; an appliance body built into the cabinet; an operation spaceinside the appliance body; a door attached to the appliance body andenclosing the operational space; a manifold skin/side trim combinationhaving a manifold skin operable to cover a control panel of the domestickitchen appliance, the manifold skin having a main skin body, a portionof the main skin body forming an opening; and a side trim of thedomestic kitchen appliance operable to be positioned adjacent to a frontface of the cabinet, the side trim having: a main section, and aninsertion extension disposed at an end of the main section that extendsinto the opening, and wherein the main skin body has a flap bent from anedge of the opening that forms a cantilever extending into an interiorarea of the main skin body, wherein the flap is parallel to and abutsthe insertion extension of the side trim, and wherein the portion of themain skin body forming the opening is substantially perpendicular to themain section of the side trim.
 16. The combination of claim 15, whereinthe side trim includes a transition section that connects the insertionextension to the main section, wherein the transition section extends atan extension angle such that the insertion extension extends along adifferent axis than an axis of the main section.
 17. The combination ofclaim 15, wherein the insertion extension contacts the flap in theinterior area of the main body.